The essence of 2000s music was experimenting with new sounds and melodies for a carefree and exciting feel. Songs focused heavily on catchy hooks to broaden engagement and popularity. Live performances and brilliant choreography were a major high point for 2000s music, setting high standards that still resonate to this day.
Artists in this era left such a lasting impression, leaving a blueprint for many popular artists today. Iconic 2000s artists, such as Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani and The Pussycat Dolls, had a musical style that is still being revived by our current artists.
Britney Spears, also known as the “pop princess”, created the hits “Baby One More Time”, “Toxic”, and “Gimme More”, that are still widely known. Spears wasn’t afraid to experiment with different sounds in order to create a catchy, infectious dance-pop song. She blended various genres of music, highlighting her vocal and dancing skills. 
Rising artists Tate McRae and Tyla have similarly followed Britney’s 2000s it-girl music. McRae’s pop-centric hooks, emotional themes, and choreography are what generate a lot of attention. Her song “Greedy” has elements of nostalgia because of the dramatic tension and singable melody, like Britney’s track “Toxic”. Tyla similarly focuses on dance-driven energy, experimenting with a blending of R&B and romantic themes. Both artists mix 2000s style music with mainstream pop, having their music on repeat worldwide.
Gwen Stefani is notoriously known for her experimental, electronic, R&B, ska, punk, and pop music. 2000s music centers around a genre-blending sound, which Stefani dominated. Her music was playful, full of rebellious energy and a vintage, nostalgic feel, with an addicting chorus. Stefani’s songs delved into girl power, confidence, love, and sweetness.
Similarly, Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album, SOUR, parallels much of Stefani’s music. The tracks on this album, like “good 4 u” and “brutal” hold a rebellious and punk style melody, like Stefani’s hits, “Hollaback Girl” and “What You Waiting For?”. Rodrigo is constantly experimenting with various genres, executing incredible fluidity, energy, and fun. Both artists have pushed boundaries of mainstream music to create and perform new unique songs.
The music of The Pussycat Dolls is powerful, with new upbeat melodies that can make anyone shake their hips. This esteemed girl group incorporated hip hop and R&B, which dominated the 2000s. Catchy tracks, like “Don’t Cha” and “Buttons”, hold a laid-back yet groovy rhythm. The group brought a new level of seduction and empowerment to the 2000s, while adding amazing choreography to their performances.
Additionally, the dance, electronic pop and high quality performances of Charli XCX are similar to The Dolls. She is a versatile artist, with songs like “1999”, which has a retro, nostalgic feel, and “Boom Clap”, with its upbeat, catchy vibe. Charli’s Brat album is a fusion of genres that are high energy with the futuristic aesthetic of the 2000s. Performance was huge with artists like The Pussycat Dolls in the 2000s, and Charli embodies that same mix of singing and powerful yet enchanting dancing.
Artists were not just musicians twenty years ago, but they were performers as well. With the return of 2000s style music, new standards have been imposed, leading to higher quality performances and music production. Today’s artists work to excite their listeners, and evoke emotions, with melodies and choruses that you cannot get out of your head. And the artists today owe so much to those that came before them, so be sure to check them out for yourself!
